“Duke Energy and the entire U.S. nuclear industry will learn from the Japanese accident. And, we’ll make modifications at our existing plants, if needed,” Rogers told about 200 shareholders at the company’s annual meeting .

“But one thing is certain: nuclear energy remains vital to the world’s energy future. It’s the only technology available today to generate carbon-free, reliable, base-load electricity – 24/7,” he said.

Duke Energy currently operates seven nuclear reactors. Upon completion of its pending merger with Raleigh, N.C.-based Progress Energy, the combined company – operating under the Duke Energy name – will operate 12 of America’s 104 nuclear reactors.

“Nuclear energy must remain a key part of our existing generation fleet, and we remain firmly committed to building new nuclear reactors, as well,” Rogers said.

“We’ll continue to move forward with the licensing process for our proposed Lee Nuclear Station in South Carolina. And we’ll continue to pursue joint nuclear partnerships with other entities to spread the cost of building the Lee plant, and reduce the rate impact on customers,” he said.

The two-reactor Lee plant, near Gaffney, S.C., has a projected online date in the early 2020’s.

Four other new Duke Energy power plants – currently under construction in North Carolina and Indiana – are scheduled to come online in 2012 as part of the company’s $7-billion modernization strategy, Rogers said.

The plants – two gas-fired and two coal-fired – together will generate nearly 2,700 megawatts of electricity and provide more than 400 permanent jobs, he said.

During their ongoing building phase, the plants have created nearly 6,500 construction jobs.

“All four of the new plants are highly advanced, state-of-the-art facilities – designed to generate electricity as efficiently as possible,” Rogers said. “Equally important, they represent large-scale innovations in clean-energy technology.”The company’s construction of the new plants – coupled with an additional $5 billion spent on retrofitting existing coal plants during the past decade – puts Duke Energy in “an excellent long-term position” to meet new federal environmental regulations expected to take effect over the next few years, Rogers said.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.